Did you switch AI tools in the past year? — AI data 2026 | Stack Overflow Developer Survey

Developer Survey 2026

Question

In the past year, have you switched from one AI tool to another for work? If yes, what was the primary reason?

single select
Optional
v2026.1

Data

	Respondents	Percent
No	4,423	33.7%
Yes — better output quality	3,305	25.1%
Yes — my organization required or recommended a different tool	1,394	10.6%
Yes — better integration with my workflow or development environment	975	7.4%
Yes — lower cost	835	6.4%
Yes — better support for agents, automation, or coding workflows	487	3.7%
Yes — another reason (write in)	466	3.6%
Yes — the previous tool became too expensive, limited, or unavailable	433	3.3%
Yes — better security, privacy, or compliance	283	2.2%
Yes — access to a preferred model or provider	280	2.1%
Yes — for a specific feature	179	1.4%
Not applicable — I do not use AI tools for work	84	0.6%

Use this data

Citation

Response data is released under the ODbL 1.0, which asks that you attribute it.

Stack Exchange Inc. (2026). “Did you switch AI tools in the past year?”. Stack Overflow Developer Survey 2026. Licensed under ODbL 1.0. https://survey.stackoverflow.co/2026/ai/data/ai-tool-switch

JSON

Structured for code, with the question, the year and the source url alongside the numbers.

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  "question": "Did you switch AI tools in the past year?",
  "dataId": "AIToolSwitch",
  "asked": "In the past year, have you switched from one AI tool to another for work? If yes, what was the primary reason?",
  "year": "2026",
  "url": "https://survey.stackoverflow.co/2026/ai/data/ai-tool-switch",
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  "data": [
    {
      "response": "No",
      "count": 4423,
      "pct": 0.337
    },
    {
      "response": "Yes — better output quality",
      "count": 3305,
      "pct": 0.251
    },
    {
      "response": "Yes — my organization required or recommended a different tool",
      "count": 1394,
      "pct": 0.106
    },
    {
      "response": "Yes — better integration with my workflow or development environment",
      "count": 975,
      "pct": 0.074
    },
    {
      "response": "Yes — lower cost",
      "count": 835,
      "pct": 0.064
    },
    {
      "response": "Yes — better support for agents, automation, or coding workflows",
      "count": 487,
      "pct": 0.037
    },
    {
      "response": "Yes — another reason (write in)",
      "count": 466,
      "pct": 0.036
    },
    {
      "response": "Yes — the previous tool became too expensive, limited, or unavailable",
      "count": 433,
      "pct": 0.033
    },
    {
      "response": "Yes — better security, privacy, or compliance",
      "count": 283,
      "pct": 0.022
    },
    {
      "response": "Yes — access to a preferred model or provider",
      "count": 280,
      "pct": 0.021
    },
    {
      "response": "Yes — for a specific feature",
      "count": 179,
      "pct": 0.014
    },
    {
      "response": "Not applicable — I do not use AI tools for work",
      "count": 84,
      "pct": 0.006
    }
  ]
}

Markdown

A formatted table, ready to paste into a document, an issue or a prompt.

|  | Respondents | Percent |
| --- | ---: | ---: |
| No | 4,423 | 33.7% |
| Yes — better output quality | 3,305 | 25.1% |
| Yes — my organization required or recommended a different tool | 1,394 | 10.6% |
| Yes — better integration with my workflow or development environment | 975 | 7.4% |
| Yes — lower cost | 835 | 6.4% |
| Yes — better support for agents, automation, or coding workflows | 487 | 3.7% |
| Yes — another reason (write in) | 466 | 3.6% |
| Yes — the previous tool became too expensive, limited, or unavailable | 433 | 3.3% |
| Yes — better security, privacy, or compliance | 283 | 2.2% |
| Yes — access to a preferred model or provider | 280 | 2.1% |
| Yes — for a specific feature | 179 | 1.4% |
| Not applicable — I do not use AI tools for work | 84 | 0.6% |

Spreadsheet

.csv is a plain text format which most spreadsheet software can open.